Zenas Matthews' 1846 U.S.-Mexico War Diary and Service Papers

wounding one man. Sept 21st 1846

This morning about 1000 or 1500 of the Mexican Lancers charged our lines 2 of our compy were mounted and the balance was stationed behind the brush fence to do sharp shooting. On they came, our men receiving the charge and repulsed them with a loss of 100 killed and wounded. Our men was supported by the Infantry and as soon as the Mexicans had retreated up the hill high enough Capt Duncan opened his battery of flying artillery upon them by firing over our mens heads with consider able effect. An Order having been received by Maj Chevallier for the 2nd Battalion of Reg Our loss was one Killed and several wounded. The Col of the Lancers was killed.

opened a fire of round and grape shot at us. We laying down behind the ledges of rock were entirely protected from their shot as the distance was to great for Rifle shot. We waited to sent for a howitzer from Capt Duncan's Battery Which we pulled up the hill by hand and change the sand bags over the other side as a breast work to it and commenced throwing Shells into the palace. The Battery on the other height throwing round shot at the same time. We lay in our positions until two oclock when we made a charge on the Palace The Mexicans retreating into town. We found that our shells had done considerable execution. The Mexicans had spiked their cannon before leaving. (one being dismounted by a shot from our battery on the other height) but we got it out bef and gave them a few rounds before they were out of reach the shot.